On Thursday, eleven Iranian men were detained at the closed border in the Lappeenranta area of southeastern Finland, Bloomberg cited a statement from the Finnish Border Guard on Friday. On Wednesday, four people were arrested in the Parikkala region, also in the southeast of the country. It was said that they had all requested asylum when they were arrested.
The Home Office said there were still asylum seekers in the border area waiting for the border to open. The Helsinki government sees the increase in asylum seekers crossing difficult terrain to the border as a threat to its national security orchestrated by Moscow. Asylum seekers would be taken to checkpoints without having the necessary documents with them.
Helsinki: “Very likely”
The country's border with Russia stretches 1,340 kilometers and is difficult to monitor due to its length, although dense forest on both sides and high snow cover make crossing difficult. “According to information from security authorities, it is very likely that Russia will resume and expand its 'hybrid attacks',” Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said on Thursday.
Portal/Lehtikuva A Finnish official with an asylum seeker at the border with Russia
Since August, almost 1,000 asylum seekers have arrived at the Finnish border from Russia, many of them from Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Finland had therefore already closed some border crossings in November. The country later closed its entire eastern border with Russia.
“National security” issue
When two border crossings were briefly reopened in December, according to border guards, more than 300 asylum seekers entered the country from Russia within two days. Finland completely closed the border again after a few days – initially until January 15th. On Thursday, the government drew conclusions from recent detentions of asylum seekers and extended the border closure for another four weeks.
All eight border crossings with Russia will remain closed until February 11. “National security is a crucial issue for Finland, it trumps everything,” Rantanen said. The government is looking for “alternative ways” to put an end to Russia’s “hybrid influence,” Rantanen said. However, asylum seekers arriving at Finnish ports and airports can still submit asylum applications.
Kremlin denies
Last year, Russia denied intentionally smuggling asylum seekers into Finland. “We do not accept such accusations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow. “Border crossings are used by those who have the right to do so,” he added. The Finnish allegations were described as “far-fetched”.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated significantly since the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. In April, Finland joined NATO after decades of alliance neutrality. The Kremlin condemned joining the Western military alliance as an “attack on Russia’s security” and announced “countermeasures.”
Light wooden fences
Until now, Finnish borders have been protected mainly with light wooden fences, which are mainly intended for keeping livestock in the country. However, the country of 5.5 million people is currently building a 200-kilometer-long fence along part of the border between Finland and Russia. Completion is scheduled for 2026.